Shores Back 2 School Bash is uplifting to students

People wait in line to sign up for a wristband so they could pick up their backpacks later at the Silver Springs Shores Community Center in Silver Springs Shores, Fla. on Saturday, August 2, 2014. Volunteers with Concerned Citizens distributed nearly 600 free backpacks to children for back to school during the Shores Back2School Bash.

Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Star-Banner

By Andy FillmoreCorrespondent

Published: Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 11:52 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 11:52 p.m.

SILVER SPRINGS SHORES -- Over 500 students will head to school Aug. 18 sporting a new backpack stuffed with school supplies thanks to the second annual Back 2 School Bash backpack giveaway gathering held Saturday at the Silver Springs Shores Community Center.

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Eric Leon and Carie Hall-Leon and their four children were the first in the sign-up line, which opened at 9 a.m.

“We got here at 7 a.m.,” Eric Leon said.

“The school supplies help a lot,” Carie Hall-Leon said as her son Jovante' Hall, a student at Lake Weir Middle School, joked that with school starting, he'll be able to “get out of the house for eight hours a day.”

Jovante' waited in line with his sisters, Destiny, 14, Ashanti, 11, and Nakeidra , 16.

Angela Moore, a stay-at-home mother, brought her five children to the gathering and found the free backpack, school supplies and fun afternoon with activities for her kids to be a God-send.

“I've had to make breakfast and lunch this summer,” said Moore, who has children from kindergarten age to 7th grade in nearby schools.

Argenis Duran, 23, and Carri Davis, 25, came to the bash with their children Jahziah, 5, and Jazlyn, 6 months. Duran said he was surprised by how much it cost to get their child ready for school.

Gina Rosado came to the event with her sons Elias, 8, entering third grade, and Issac, 6, entering first grade, both at nearby Emerald Shores Elementary.

“I like it,” said Elias Rosado, 8, as he turned around and showed off his new bright green backpack.

Daivon Law, 13, will start his freshman year at Lake Weir High School in just over two weeks.

“I'm excited. I plan to plan football. I like the backpack, I'll use it,” he said.

Lake Weir High School student Savannah Alexander, 12, said she “wants to go back to school.”

Ebony Duncan called Saturday's event a “morale booster” as she led her children Demetrius, 4, and Deandre, 2, around the grounds.

“This is very helpful,” she said.

Candace King, 28, and Shana Augustus, 29, both brought their children to the event.

“This is good for the community.” Augustus said.

The Back 2 School Bash began last year when Keren Sewell, 30, a caseworker with the Florida Department of Children and Families and lifelong resident of Silver Springs Shores, “saw a need (here), especially as a child from a single-parent family of five children, and had a vision.”

Last year, Sewell gathered a group of volunteers and approached Marion County Youth Recreation Specialist Mike Burleson, who oversees activities including swimming, billiards, table tennis and special events at the Community Center, about holding a back-to-school event at the facility.

Last year, about 300 backpacks stuffed with a notebook, pencil and pen, were distributed free. This year's gathering saw that number nearly doubled.

“Our hope is to get kids prepared and excited about school. This is where it starts with the basic tools, for the kids to be set up for success,” Sewell said.

Sewell said sponsors for the event this year include Church @ The Springs, Wings of Faith Fellowship Church, Easy Wireless, Homerun Realty and Earth Organics.

Volunteers including Francine Julius-Edwards, Fay Gordon and Miranda Patnoe helped sign up and stuff backpacks throughout the day. Mary James, one of the founders last year, worked again this year at stuffing backpacks.

The Knights of Columbus council 13676 with Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Silver Springs Shores manned booths, including a bounce house and dunk tank sponsored by Homerun Realty.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office, Marion Fire Rescue and Marion County Search and Rescue and Boy Scout Troop 448 sponsored by Silver Springs Shores Presbyterian Church had booths at the event.

Ed Kelly, a member of the Knights of Columbus and president of the Silver Springs Shores Residents Association from 2003 to 2009, served hot dogs while handing out a survey form about streets and roads, code enforcement, jobs and other concerns of the local citizens.

Kelly feels incorporation should be considered in the area, which has grown sporadically over the last several decades. A Wal-Mart store opened in Silver Springs Shores last year and a major shopping center is now under construction on a site adjacent to the retailer.

“There are about 32,000 residents here now, but if completely developed, Silver Springs Shores would have about 100,000 residents. We need a library here, too,” Kelly said.

Kelly said very preliminary results of an in-progress survey indicated Silver Springs Shores residents felt a need for more recreation.

The Community Center, which is “provided for the use … of residents of the Silver Springs Special tax District,” also hosts meetings of the Residents Association and various local clubs and organizations.

Will Thompson circulated flyers about an All Pro Dads group aimed at strengthening family relationship. He has remarked on wanting to see more interaction among residents in the Silver Springs Shores community.

The Rev. Bruce Seaman and his son Ray Seaman circulated information about voting on a school funding referendum slated to be on the ballot in November.

“We had about 100 positives and one negative remark,” Ray Seaman said.

Volunteer Roger Kappell kept cool by getting an occasional dunk in the water tank when kids hit the bull's-eye with a softball.

<p>SILVER SPRINGS SHORES -- Over 500 students will head to school Aug. 18 sporting a new backpack stuffed with school supplies thanks to the second annual Back 2 School Bash backpack giveaway gathering held Saturday at the Silver Springs Shores Community Center.</p><p>Eric Leon and Carie Hall-Leon and their four children were the first in the sign-up line, which opened at 9 a.m.</p><p>“We got here at 7 a.m.,” Eric Leon said.</p><p>“The school supplies help a lot,” Carie Hall-Leon said as her son Jovante' Hall, a student at Lake Weir Middle School, joked that with school starting, he'll be able to “get out of the house for eight hours a day.” </p><p>Jovante' waited in line with his sisters, Destiny, 14, Ashanti, 11, and Nakeidra , 16.</p><p>Angela Moore, a stay-at-home mother, brought her five children to the gathering and found the free backpack, school supplies and fun afternoon with activities for her kids to be a God-send.</p><p>“I've had to make breakfast and lunch this summer,” said Moore, who has children from kindergarten age to 7th grade in nearby schools.</p><p>Moore's neighbor Jason Sprano is also the father of five.</p><p>“With prices (in stores) and all, it's been a rough summer,” Sprano said.</p><p>Argenis Duran, 23, and Carri Davis, 25, came to the bash with their children Jahziah, 5, and Jazlyn, 6 months. Duran said he was surprised by how much it cost to get their child ready for school.</p><p>Gina Rosado came to the event with her sons Elias, 8, entering third grade, and Issac, 6, entering first grade, both at nearby Emerald Shores Elementary.</p><p>“I like it,” said Elias Rosado, 8, as he turned around and showed off his new bright green backpack.</p><p>Daivon Law, 13, will start his freshman year at Lake Weir High School in just over two weeks.</p><p>“I'm excited. I plan to plan football. I like the backpack, I'll use it,” he said.</p><p>Lake Weir High School student Savannah Alexander, 12, said she “wants to go back to school.”</p><p>Ebony Duncan called Saturday's event a “morale booster” as she led her children Demetrius, 4, and Deandre, 2, around the grounds.</p><p>“This is very helpful,” she said.</p><p>Candace King, 28, and Shana Augustus, 29, both brought their children to the event.</p><p>“This is good for the community.” Augustus said.</p><p>The Back 2 School Bash began last year when Keren Sewell, 30, a caseworker with the Florida Department of Children and Families and lifelong resident of Silver Springs Shores, “saw a need (here), especially as a child from a single-parent family of five children, and had a vision.”</p><p>Last year, Sewell gathered a group of volunteers and approached Marion County Youth Recreation Specialist Mike Burleson, who oversees activities including swimming, billiards, table tennis and special events at the Community Center, about holding a back-to-school event at the facility.</p><p>Last year, about 300 backpacks stuffed with a notebook, pencil and pen, were distributed free. This year's gathering saw that number nearly doubled.</p><p>“Our hope is to get kids prepared and excited about school. This is where it starts with the basic tools, for the kids to be set up for success,” Sewell said.</p><p>Sewell said sponsors for the event this year include Church @ The Springs, Wings of Faith Fellowship Church, Easy Wireless, Homerun Realty and Earth Organics.</p><p>Volunteers including Francine Julius-Edwards, Fay Gordon and Miranda Patnoe helped sign up and stuff backpacks throughout the day. Mary James, one of the founders last year, worked again this year at stuffing backpacks.</p><p>The Knights of Columbus council 13676 with Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Silver Springs Shores manned booths, including a bounce house and dunk tank sponsored by Homerun Realty.</p><p>The Marion County Sheriff's Office, Marion Fire Rescue and Marion County Search and Rescue and Boy Scout Troop 448 sponsored by Silver Springs Shores Presbyterian Church had booths at the event.</p><p>Ed Kelly, a member of the Knights of Columbus and president of the Silver Springs Shores Residents Association from 2003 to 2009, served hot dogs while handing out a survey form about streets and roads, code enforcement, jobs and other concerns of the local citizens.</p><p>Kelly feels incorporation should be considered in the area, which has grown sporadically over the last several decades. A Wal-Mart store opened in Silver Springs Shores last year and a major shopping center is now under construction on a site adjacent to the retailer.</p><p>“There are about 32,000 residents here now, but if completely developed, Silver Springs Shores would have about 100,000 residents. We need a library here, too,” Kelly said.</p><p>Kelly said very preliminary results of an in-progress survey indicated Silver Springs Shores residents felt a need for more recreation.</p><p>The Community Center, which is “provided for the use … of residents of the Silver Springs Special tax District,” also hosts meetings of the Residents Association and various local clubs and organizations. </p><p>Will Thompson circulated flyers about an All Pro Dads group aimed at strengthening family relationship. He has remarked on wanting to see more interaction among residents in the Silver Springs Shores community.</p><p>The Rev. Bruce Seaman and his son Ray Seaman circulated information about voting on a school funding referendum slated to be on the ballot in November.</p><p>“We had about 100 positives and one negative remark,” Ray Seaman said.</p><p>Volunteer Roger Kappell kept cool by getting an occasional dunk in the water tank when kids hit the bull's-eye with a softball.</p><p>“That's why I chose this job,” Kappell joked.</p>